Lee Snaps Selfie with Xi on 'Backdoor' Phone, Signals New Era in South Korea-China Ties

• South Korean President Lee Jae Myung took a selfie with Chinese President Xi Jinping using a Xiaomi phone gifted by Xi, who had joked about a 'backdoor'.
• Lee's visit to Beijing aims for a 'new phase' in South Korea-China relations, the first such visit since 2019 after strained ties.
• Key priorities include regional security, lifting Beijing's K-pop ban, and signing cooperation agreements on technology, trade, and environment.
• Xi seeks to improve ties amid China-Japan tensions, urging Lee to make 'correct strategic choices' and cooperate for Northeast Asian peace.
• Lee balances US alliance with China trade dependency, also planning to strengthen relations with Japan.

Why It Matters: Lee's selfie with Xi symbolizes a diplomatic reset, navigating complex regional dynamics.